World Peace says he'll sign with Knicks

LAS VEGAS >> Metta World Peace says he will be signing with the New York Knicks.

Team officials at the NBA summer league in Las Vegas would not confirm the move, but World Peace says he is excited to join Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks.

"The team is amazing, the players; I'm excited to play and hustle," he said Monday while attending NBA summer league games in Las Vegas.

World Peace was waived Thursday by the Los Angeles Lakers by way of their amnesty clause and cleared waivers Sunday night, thus becoming a free agent. The 6-foot-7 forward will still be paid the $7.7 million that was owed to him by the Lakers.

World Peace was waived Thursday by the Los Angeles Lakers, who used the amnesty clause to create salary cap space. The 6-foot-7 forward will still be paid the $7.7 million that was owed to him by the Lakers.

World Peace grew up in New York and attended St. John's, when he was known as Ron Artest.

. "It has nothing to do with New York, the city," World Peace said. "The only thing that's important are those players that I'm going to be joining and touching that hallway with, that's all that's important right now."

In 14 NBA seasons with five teams, he has averaged 14.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.